Spike just got skunked between the eyes

Spike (dog) ran up to a skunk in the yard, inserted nose into butt and by the time husband noticed and called him off, it was too late. Full blast to the face.

Searched online and the formula you use that is a mixture of peroxide, baking soda and detergent has warnings to keep away from their face as it is on the caustic side. Says you can use it but not by their nose, mouth and eyes (which is where he got blasted).

Husband bathed him twice as I ran to vets and got an eye cream and Skunk Off - used the eye cream to keep the soap out of the eyes and the Skunk Off to neutralize. It isn't helping much.

Any other products out there that anyone can recommend?

I've got him in the back porch with the whole house purifier cranked up high in that room in the mean time. I can't and won't put him outside.

I'm checking his gums to make sure that he doesn't go into any toxic shock - the spray appears to have gone up his nostrils and skunk spray can cause blood toxins if enhaled for too long.

He goes to the vet at 8AM in the morning for boarding - we're going away for the weekend.

Help and ideas anyone?

Uh oh poor dog- the skunk's oil is so penetrating, and it clings to everything. Do you have some full strength mouthwash? Listerine Amber is the best to use, just take a cloth and soak it in the Listerine, and avoiding his eyes, just start wiping him down. Let it sit about 5 minutes, and then shampoo him with dog shampoo.

I remember something about humans getting sprayed with skunk and using tomato juice to get rid of it - has anyone else heard of this?

Trust me tomato juice does not work. I used to raise baby skunks and rehab them to the wild. Sometimes they find their way back "home." Six of them are visiting mom and dad this year- three under the barn and three under the house. Because of that, I am fully confident of tomato juice not working!

Yup - tomato juice may only help neutralize the oils but doesn't do anything to help with the smell.

Just bathed him for the third time with the skunk off and it gets a little better everytime - but we're a long way away from being odor free. I'll try the mouthwash.

At least his gums are looking good and he just ate a healthy dinner. He is a bit subdued and I PRAY that he has learned his lesson about skunks.

My poor Spikie-wikes!

Oh no...poor Spikie-wikes. The indignity of it all. I will give him a virtual hug. You smell fine to me Spike.
Lei

Originally Posted by hissy

Trust me tomato juice does not work. I used to raise baby skunks and rehab them to the wild. Sometimes they find their way back "home." Six of them are visiting mom and dad this year- three under the barn and three under the house. Because of that, I am fully confident of tomato juice not working!

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wow! I have been seeing a lot of baby skunks lately on my way walking home from work. I always think to myself, what if they sprayed me? What would I do? Now I know - talk to Hissy! LOL.

A question, will a baby skunk (or adult) just spray automatically if you walk by and it notices you? Or do you have to aggravate it to spray? What makes it spray really?

Skunks don't spray when they are babies, they stink a bit, but that is all until they get to be about 3 months old, then they start their defensive behavior, they chitter, they hiss they stamp their feet, then they move backward, raise their tail but by then you best be long gone! LOL The spray when they are scared, or threatened, and if you watch them after they have sprayed, the leave at a slow waddle because after all, with that type of ammunition why hurry? The only move about one m.p.h.

Here is my experiences with them and I find them just delightful to interact with


http://www.savesamoa.org/html/baby_skunks.html

Poor Spike!

This page has some ideas:

Urban Wildlife Rescue - Skunks - look down toward the bottom of the page

The only one I've used on a dog personally is the peroxide mixture, and it worked pretty well, but like you, I'd be afraid to use it around the eyes. Hopefully one of the others will help!

Originally Posted by hissy

Here is my experiences with them and I find them just delightful to interact with


http://www.savesamoa.org/html/baby_skunks.html

Click to expand...

How cute!